About Nichi Farnham While Republican Sen. Nichi Farnham presents herself as a reasonable, moderate soccer mom, her economic, social and environmental philosophy and policies mirror those of the tea party-controlled State House and Senate. Similarly, her voting record is a carbon copy of Gov. Read More

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Anonymous

Yes, the 47%… Dont forget the 1%……

Anonymous

Some are in both groups. In 2009 there were 1,470 tax families making more than $1 million that paid no federal income tax.

Seems you accuse people of lying simply when they say something you don’t like. Why don’t you look into the claim before launching accusations?

Anonymous

Not paying federal income tax does not mean that no taxes were paid on a $1,000,000 of adjusted gross income. If your income is flowing from foreign investmets and you paid taxes to the foreign government where you have your investment you are entitled to a Foreign Tax Credit. There is nothing nefarious about this; I own shares of a Canadian Company and Nestle’s (a Swiss Company) in my very modest retirement portfolio. Each year on my U.S. tax return I have an entry for the Foreign Tax Credit.

Anonymous

I was just pointing out that the 47% is not just made up of low income people as some on both sides have claimed. You point out one of the many reasons one with higher income would not pay federal income tax.

Albert, my dad is a disabled vet. He would love to go out and work but is stuck at home. If he wants to sit on FB in between multiple doc visits and physical therapy appointments than who am I to judge. Your letter is ridiculous. If you want to collect your SS than go ahead. Most of those who do not pay Fed income tax are baby boomers who are collecting their SS that they paid into. God Bless.

Anonymous

Your diatribe is like so many of those on the left, defensive when it is not necessary.
The letter was not about disabled veterans or those physically disabled by illness or accident but about those able bodied individuals that are perfectly able to work but refuse to do so.
Thank you to your dad for his service, from one vet unable to work to another.

Guest

Your diatribe is just as predictable. You do not know about disabilities.
They do affect people’s ability to get and keep a job.

Anonymous

I DONT KNOW ABOUT DISABILITIES???? how dare you
I am more than half blind, have orthopediac problems that come from being hit by an uninsured motorist, and CHF. HOW DARE YOU.

Guest

If you did you’d be more understanding and realize not all disabilities are clearly evident and even those who appear to be of sound bodies are not able to keep a job due to their particular disability.
How dare you chew me out as if you were talking to a child. Your umbrage is duly noted. I will take your story with a grain of salt.

Anonymous

I suspect that I am speaking with a child, maybe in an adult body but still a spoiled and childish attitude.
I could not care one bit if you take me with an entire salt mine.

Mostly right, though he loses points at the end with his petulant suggestion – that he’ll become part of the problem if Obama wins re-election, rather than continuing to be part of the solution. Such partisanship is ruining this country.

Anonymous

Mr. McDonald and Ms. Norton, I could not agree more.
Geoff Gratwick was a great Bangor City Councilor: ready to listen, ready to innovate, and ready to serve all of the voters.
In contrast, Nichi Farnham helped spearhead the drive to disenfranchise thousands of Mainers by ending Election Day registration merely to help her party do better at the next election. She also backed a health insurance “reform” that allows health insurers to raise their rates by up to 10% without any requirement to obtain governmental approval. That “reform” has cost eastern Maine businesses higher group rates as their employees are older and more rural.

Anonymous

Mr. Dow- I read your letter before, in a different paper of course. I know many people that are disabled, some born that way, others from serious illnesses. Put in a position from no fault of their own. Because someone without the use of their legs can turn on a TV or use a computer that makes them less disabled? I know a very intelligent woman. Her brain is just fine but her body is falling apart. She could probably find some employment using that wonderful brain but finding one that has medical benefits to keep the body alive? That’s a different story. You should consider yourself lucky that you have options like quitting your job and becoming a taker.
Are there people abusing the system? You bet, but for many others it is their only lifeline. I for one would not want to throw so many under the bus because of a few.

Anonymous

Myamya,
I was going to respond to Mr. Dow’s letter, but you have illustrated a response far more eloquently than I could.

Anonymous

Mr. Dow: especially in the current economic climate, try getting *any* job if you have *any* disability whatsoever. Severe failure of empathy here.

Anonymous

James MacDonald, you are SPOT ON CORRECT. THANK YOU FOR TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT NICHI FARNHAM. While she may seem on the outside, on the inside she is a dye-in-the-wool right winger. She has voted with Paul LePage 92% of the time, a rubber stamp by any measure. She voted to end same-day voter registration, marching in the lockstep with the right wing LIARS who tried to LIE and LIE and LIE again about non-existent “voter fraud” when their real reason was to follow the ALEC/Heritage Foundation national playbook and try to suppress more progressive voting blocks. SHAMEFUL and WE WILL NOT FORGET IT. Good people of Bangor, PLEASE VOTE FOR GEOFF GRATWICK and get someone in there who will STAND UP for Bangor’s values and will STAND UP to Paul LePage when it is necessary.

Gene Clifford, as you saw, Mr. Obama took it to MittTwit RobMe good and hard in the next two debates. This is the President who has placed the toughest sanctions on Iran and ordered the good-riddence take-out of Osama Bin Laden. He has also taken down MANY Al Qaeda operatives. Mr. Obama is cool-headed, extremely intelligent, and darn tough. Don’t mess with the Prez !

Anonymous

Mr. Dow, you have confused disability with incapacity.

A disability is a skill or skills necessary for gainful employment that a person lacks because of a medical condition.

Having a disability does not mean one cannot walk, talk, hear, see, taste, smell, and touch. It goes far beyond the senses.

Anonymous

Mr Dow, good letter- even if the Libs responding don’t seem to think so

Anonymous

I see that ex-Major Dow is well on the way to becoming a triple-dipper. He will get retirement benefits from the military, nursing, and Social Security. Congratulations. Oh, and by the way, when he does collect these benefits he will become part of the 47% if he isn’t already.

Anonymous

Mr.Dow- You do not have to be a taker. You can go be a greeter at WalMart, the only ones who are hiring in rural Maine these days. Try making it on what they pay without becoming a “taker”. It will be fun and adventurous to try and live within those means without “taking” a little LLIHEAP or food stamps.

Guest

Mr. Dow—-You have much to learn about disabilities and how they affect a person’s daily activities.

How downright ignorant and condescending of you to assume people who are disabled are somehow not legitimate.
Many people who are disabled aren’t disabled with the benefits you will eventually receive. If you are taking in half of that $1200 you are moaning about then you are doing well, congratulations.

Now stop looking down your nose at those who have difficulties in life.